Incidents leading to indictment

Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 | 11:24 a.m.

The U.S. attorney's office in San Diego alleged Thursday that strip club owner Michael Galardi, former County Commissioner and Galardi employee Lance Malone, Galardi employee John D'Intino bribed three San Diego Councilmen -- Ralph Inzunza, Charles Lewis and Michael Zucchet. The indictment alleges wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, extortion and interstate travel in the aid of racketeering. Lewis aide David Cowan is charged with making a false statement to the FBI.

The indictment outlines the following incidents and conversations:

Aug. 23, 2000: Cheetahs San Diego manager John D'Intino tells others to write checks to San Diego City Council candidates, and later reimburses the individuals for their contributions.

April 7, 2001: In Las Vegas, Michael Galardi states: "So I'll get Lance (Malone) down there, just start building little relationships. ... Then once they know they can trust us believe me they'll (expletive) have that hand out."

May 24, 2001: In a telephone call to D'Intino, Galardi states: "We got $5,000 worth of checks for (San Diego City Councilman Charles) Lewis."

June 13, 2001: Galardi tells D'Intino, "We gave him (San Diego City Councilman Ralph Inzunza) almost 10 grand, he almost (expletive)."

July 19, 2001: Malone gives San Diego City Councilman Michael Zucchet checks totaling $6,750 in San Diego.

Jan. 15, 2002: During a telephone call between Malone and Inzunza, Malone assures Inzunza that he can get the money for Zucchet, "very, very discreet this time."

Feb. 28, 2002: D'Intino attends a fund-raiser for Zucchet in San Diego and delivers checks totaling $2,000.

March 7, 2002: Galardi, discussing Zucchet, asks Malone, "Who's the guy he's runnin' off? We could bribe him too."

June 22, 2002: Galardi gives $3,000 to a cooperating witness to create checks for Lewis.

July 31, 2002: Inzunza calls Malone and referred to him as "the great Lance Malone," and refers to himself as "your humble servant, Ralph Inzunza."

Oct. 30, 2002: Malone delivers $3,000 in checks to Zucchet at a fund-raiser.

Nov. 6, 2002: Malone pays for tickets to a performance by the Blue Man Group at the Luxor for Lewis and his wife.

Feb. 18, 2003: During a telephone call between Malone and Zucchet, Malone tells Zucchet that Inzunza was "already on board."

Feb. 24, 2003: During a telephone call between Malone and Inzunza, Malone tells Inzunza that he did not want him or Lewis to docket an issue before a city council committee because "you guys both took money from us."

April 1, 2003: During a telephone call between Malone and Lewis' aide David Cowan, there is discussion about Malone finding a job for Cowan's brother in Las Vegas.

April 9, 2003: In a telephone conversation Zucchet tells Malone that the San Diego Police Department likes the "no touch" ordinance the way it is. Malone responds, "That is just their official stance, but you know me, I don't do anything official."

April 29, 2003: Malone tells Lewis in a phone call to "look after my guy."

April 30, 2003: Thomas Waddell, a Las Vegas resident, travels to San Diego with Galardi and Malone, and speaks before the San Diego City Council's Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, where Zucchet asks for a review of adult-entertainment zoning issues. Waddell tells the San Diego committee that he was a resident of Zucchet's district, which he was not.

May 1, 2003: In a telephone conversation, Malone tells Lewis, "Thanks for helping me out yesterday."